Senate debates

Thursday, 12 November 2020

Bills

Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2020; Second Reading

12:47 pm

Photo of Zed SeseljaZed Seselja (ACT, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Finance, Charities and Electoral Matters) Share this | Hansard source

I would just point out in response to that that the government has delivered the greatest level of social support in our history during this crisis here, which goes to our strong support for a social safety net.

The Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2020 makes technical and administrative amendments to support service delivery, and will update Social Services portfolio legislation to remove obsolete provisions and to correct errors. The bill will amend portfolio secrecy provisions to require the Department of Social Services and Services Australia to comply with notices issued by royal commissions where the notices require the production of information protected by those secrecy provisions. The bill will update some offence provisions in the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 so that it is clear that the offences apply in circumstances where a claim is processed by an automated system within Services Australia.

Lastly, the bill makes minor technical and administrative amendments to social security law and other Social Services portfolio legislation, and makes related minor consequential amendments to other legislation. The amendments remove obsolete provisions, correct errors, update legislation and improve the operation of legislation to support service delivery. I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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